Reviews of Marcy’s and Blue, Duckfat Cook on Chopped

| Posted in Reviews, Beer

The Press Herald has published a review of Marcy’s,

My sunny-side up eggs were perfect, with nice big yolks. When I see “home fries” on the menu, I think of chunks of potatoes. But I got what I consider hash browns — thin, shredded potatoes. Maybe they were out of the chunky ones. I didn’t care, because these were some of the best hash browns I’ve ever had. No pre-made hash brown patties for Marcy’s. This was a big ole’ mess of shredded potatoes, nice and toasty, with just the right amount of crispness.

and a bar review of Blue.

On one wall, large chalkboards display the night’s menu, featured wines and beer listings. Blue has eight beers on tap and three more offered by the bottle. The average price is about $5. There were eight wines to choose from, ranging from $6 to $10, a couple of which you can buy by the bottle. If you’re looking for a liquor drink at Blue, though, you’re out of luck.

Today’s paper also includes a report on Duckfat cook Melissa Corey’s recent appearance on Chopped,

“I was the youngest contestant and the only female contestant, so it was sort of intimidating first walking in there,” Corey said in a phone interview from Chicago. “I don’t think any of the guys who were against me thought that I would be the one to pull it off in the end. I think I sort of surprised them.”

and the latest installment of the What Ales You column.

Tandoor Bakery & UFF Kombucha

| Posted in People, Profiles, Fisheries

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes a profile of Tandoor Bakery,

Bread is not the only thing Naser bakes at Tandoor Bread & Restaurant, his little bakery across the street from Baxter Woods.

Every day, he and his wife, Kanat Saad, and their helpers produce a good array of delicious Middle Eastern fare, from falafel and shawarma to baklava and other Arabic pastries.

and an article about the Urban Farm Farmentory’s new line of kombucha products.

The initial release of Urban Farm Fermentory Kombucha Culture offers three varieties: Wild blueberry, ginger and oak barrel, with more flavors to be added in coming months.

Also in today’s paper is a report on a recall of seafood produced by the Portland Shellfish Co.

This Week’s Events: Best of Portland, Pilot Beer Night, Rioja Wine Dinner, Food Coma 2

| Posted in Events

Wednesday — the Portland Phoenix is hosting the 2012 Best of Portland awards show, there will be a wine tasting at RSVP, Sebago is holding a Pilot Beer Night to showcase 4 of their experimental brews, and there will be a Rioja wine dinner at Caiola’s.

Thursday — The Great Lost Bear is featuring beer from Stone Brewing, and the Browne Trading is holding a wine tasting.

Saturday — the Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the Irish Heritage Center, and Wine Wise is holding a French wine walk.

Sunday — the Food Coma TV’s season 2 premiere dinner (tickets available online) is being held at Nosh and the season 2 party is taking place at Space Gallery.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Review of Emilitsa

| Posted in Reviews

Emilitsa received 4½ stars from the review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

My descriptions are not inflated — Emilitsa is just that good. On a cold, rainy spring night, I met my husband at Emilitsa to battle the gray weather and surround ourselves with color and flavor. Remember the scene in “The Wizard of Oz” when Dorothy’s house lands after the cyclone, and suddenly her world moves from grayscale to Technicolor? That is the Emilitsa dining experience.

Reviews: Fore Street & King of the Roll

| Posted in Reviews

Map & Menu has published a review of Fore Street.

After such a great meal, I don’t know how we did it, but we made some room for their handmade (in house) chocolates and a delectable warm banana tarte tatin. The desserts sent us over the top, and we once again (as is becoming the Portland norm) made our way back home, stuffed to perfection.

Lady Bar Fly gives the oysters at King of the Roll an enthusiastic thumbs up.

While I welcome this addition to the local scene, they will have a run for their money with my favorite oysters in the city, which can be found at King of the Roll. I’m mad for these and have never stepped foot in the place without having these as an appetizer…It has gotten to the point that when I walk in the door, the owner, John Wayne, waves to me from the sushi bar and says, “Oysters?” and I always say yes.

Review of The Great Lost Bear

| Posted in Reviews

Maine magazine’s Eat Maine blog has posted a review of The Great Lost Bear.

The Great Lost Bear is a quintessential neighborhood bar, with the pre-requisite group of diehard regulars and the high likelihood that you’ll run into a few people you know on any given night. There are dive-y elements, but in no way would it be considered a dive. Rather, it’s a delightfully nostalgic watering hole, where clientele from all walks of life can find common ground.